Owens Lineage

I started doing research on the Owens line in 1998 in an effort to get all of my husbands cousins and aunts and uncles straight. Soon, a small sapling tree on a crinkled napkin turned into a great oak!

GENERATION 1: John Owens, born about 1660 in England, died 5/7/1712 in Richmond County, VA. He married Rebecca Haile/Hailes about 1685 in King George County, VA. She was the daughter of Frank B. She was born between 1660/1664 in Richmond County, VA. They had 3 sons; John, Richard, William.

GENERATION 2: John I. Owens, born about 1685 and died about 1754 in Westmoreland County, VA. He married an unknown woman before 1720 and had 2 children; Nathaniel, Samuel. John's brother Richard had a son named Jeremiah who married Jane Kenton, sister of Simon Kenton, explorer. His children; Nathaniel, Samuel. Samuel's daughter Leah married James Monteith in 1763. He was the son of Thomas Monteith and Phyllis Gallop (Phyllis is the daughter of Capt. Robert Gallop and Elinor Bryant, and stepdaughter of John I. Owens). James was disowned by his family because he married Phyllis, who 1/2 Cherokee Indian, yet James Monteith was 1/4 Potomac Indian (his mother was 1/2)!

John I. Owens married Elinor Bryant Gallop (1735 in Richmond County, VA), widow of Capt. Robert Gallop. Elinor was the daughter of ? Bryant and Lucy Doniphan. She was a native of the Patawomeck Tribe. The Patawomeck Tribe (aka Potomac Tribe) formed in the 1600's along the Potomac River in Stafford County. In the 1600's there was a population of about 800 natives. Today, there is an estimated 150 mixed bloods still residing in the region. Chief Japasaw was the leader of the tribe, and brother to Chief Powhatan, father of Pocahontas. Pocahontas' mother was a member of the Patawomeck Tribe.

GENERATION 3: Nathaniel Owens, born 1720? in King George County, VA, died 4/9/1807 in Fauquier County, VA. He married Ann Marder. Ann was married previously and had a daughter Elizabeth Marder. Their children were; Sarah, Samuel, Rebecca, Behethelom (Hetty), Mary, Nathaniel. The family moved to Kentucky sometime after 1765.

Nathaniel's son, Nathaniel was a prominent member of the family. He was the father of Mary S. Owens (also known as "Lincoln's Other Mary"), who was courted by Abraham Lincoln and proposed to, only to decline. She later married Jessie Vineyard of TX.

Sheriff Nathaniel Owens was the County's first elected Sheriff in 1792. He was the wealthiest man in the county, a prominent land owner and had a home built upon a knoll at Brush Creek in Greene County, KY. The homesite was rumored to be over 1,000 acres and was named LASHFIELD. Nathaniel was a teacher and opened the Brush Creek Academy, which is now Boyd's Crossing at Highway 61.

GENERATION 4: Samuel Owens, born about 1755 and died about 1801 in King George County, VA. He married Margaret Jones and then married Elizabeth King, daughter of William King and Elizabeth Edwards. Elizabeth was born about 1766 amnd died 12/8/1808 in King George County, VA. Samuel fought in the Revolutionary War. He purchased 300 acres from Diggie Dishman in 1799 along with a grist mill, along Roziers Creek along the border of King George County, VA and Westmoreland County, VA.

GENERATION 5: Fielding E. Owens, born between 1776-1780 in King George County, VA and died about 1828 in Westmoreland County, VA. He married Mary Polly Smith Weeks 8/26/1801 in Westmoreland County, VA. She was born about 1780 and died sometime after 1820. Fielding was a private in the 16th Regiment, Virginia Militia from 8/1814 to 9/1814 during the War of 1812. Their children were; Austin Putnam Smith, James F., Emily AS (married Burtin Cardin).

GENERATION 6: Austin Putnam Smith Owens, born 1802 in King George, died 5/18/1840 in King George. Married Jane Ammons Frank, born 5/15/1815, died between 1875-1880 in Westmoreland. She married Joseph Jett in 1849 after Austin's death and had several children. Deed of December 13th, 1834 from Austin PS Owens and wife Jane to George G. Barock for 47 acres of land near the head of Pope's Creek.

GENERATION 7: Richard Henry Owens, born 12/8/1833 in King George. Died 4/4/1913 in King George. Married Martha Pemberton, born 6/13/1834, died 2/23/1923 in King George. Was part of the 9th Va Calvary, Johnsons Regiment. Enlisted december 12, 1862 at King George Courthouse in company 1 at age 28. Richard Owens was assigned extra duty as a teamster. Was absent/sick from july through December 1863. He deserted in Essex County, VA on April 11, 1864.

"Civil War tombstone set for Richard Henry Owens on September 12, 1987 atOwens Post Office, King George County, VA by Delores Hoge Shea, Nancy Deshazo Jennings, Aubrey Jennings". Pembertons are also buried at thiscemetery.

Was postmaster at post office in OWENS, King George County.

GENERATION 8: William Wesley Owens, born 1/28/1862, died Aft 1924. Married 1. Olive/Olivia Parr 6/18/1890. Married 2. Lomie Chinn 12/28/1899. Resided at 1414 Prince Edward Street Fredericksburg at time of death. Letter to Lomie Chinn at time of courtship:

4/30/1899

Miss Sissy Chinn:My dearest freind as i am alone tonight i thought i should write you a few lines to let you hear from me. i am very well alto a cold. my little ones will they have gone to bed and ii can't behold that sweet face tonight. i would try to write a few lines to you . i wrote last wednesday. which i hope you have gotten before this time. we had preaching today our old paster preached for us today. he gives a____ ____ as gay as looks today, this eve. i went out visiting today had avery pleasant time, but i no if i had of been with you, i would of injoyedmyself much better. i hafe __ fellows want ___ me out. while i am sofor off one good thing i have god. such a a good opinion of my little girli don't believe she would do anything of the kind as to deceive me in any way. so that helps me a heap. my bro has gone to see his girl tonight. ionly wish i could see mine tonight. but i hope is won't be long before i___ i hope you spent a pleasant sunday. did you go to sunday school? we are having a very good sunday school at oakland now. i have almost cometo conclusion to withdraw from the filed as a candidate as there is anotheropposing me of some ___ so i don't ___ much chance of election. and myfriends have advised to do so. before i spend anything much. so ithink i will drop it. i have got so much work to do i don't like to taketoo much time. while i would stick to it if there was no other candidateon republican side opposing me. i would have a good chance. let ____ go i guess. i can live without them. will as it is getting late, i will conclude by asking you to please excuse bad writing and mistakes. ____ ____ soon to you, ___ and devoted friend. (signed) WW Owens, Jr.

GENERATION 9: William Henry Owens, born 12/22/1894 in King George, died 8/6/1971 in Fredericksburg. He was a driver for the Fredericksburg Creamery. He married Mae Jane Truslow 6/17/1917 in Fredericksburg, VA. She was born 5/12/1900 in Stafford County, VA and died 12/12/1959 in Fredericksburg, VA. They had 3 children; Ashby (died at 3 mos), George Marion (died at 11 mos), (both sons died from the Spanish Flu epidemic) and Jane Pemberton.

GENERATION 10: Jane Pemberton Owens, born 1932

GENERATION 11: Robert William Owens, born 1966

Photo's above, left to right, starting at top:1. Unknown Man - Picture found with Owens and Truslow family pictures​2. William Henry Owens at a convention in the mid 1940's in Atlantic City, NJ on the Boardwalk3. Olivia Parr, William Henry's mother4. Sign in Owens, King George County, on Route 2065. Jane Pemberton Owens, far left, with Francis Truslow (George's wife) and far right is Marlene Wheeler - photo near old Falmouth Bridge in Fredericksburg, about 1945